Player Watch: Freddie Sears

Colchester United forward Freddie Sears continued his pre-season goal scoring form with a good performance against AFC Sudbury on Thursday night.

He added another goal to take his pre-season tally to four after just three games.

Starting alongside fellow front man Jabo Ibehre, it did not take Sears long to get his first opportunity on the Sudbury goal.

Having worked himself some space just outside the box, the Colchester number 11 put a curling shot just wide of the post in the 9th minute.

The U’s had started the game well, and Sears did not have to wait long for his next opportunity to score.

After going past one defender, he drove deep into Sudbury territory and drove a shot towards the bottom corner, only for it to be blocked well by the accomplished centre half deep in his own penalty area.

The striker turned creator six minutes later in the 20th minute of the first half.

Having picked up the ball on the halfway line, he sent an inch perfect through ball to the pacey Tosin Olufemi out wide, but his floated cross deep into the penalty area was easily caught by the Sudbury keeper.

Sears probably thought that his fourth goal of pre season was coming his way after a good pass from Dom Vose sent him through on the keeper, but the linesman’s flag went up for offside.

Another good through ball from Sears sent Drey Wright in behind out wide, yet his low and pacey cross was not converted by the incoming Jabo Ibehre.

Sears’s goal came in the 35th minute of a dominated first half, from the penalty spot - after a handball after a Drey Wright cross.

Sears calmly stepped up and sent the impressive Sudbury goalkeeper Alex Archer the wrong way to put the U’s into the lead.

The Col U front man was eager for more goals and only 4 minutes later, in the 39th, did his next chance on goal arrive.

Again, he picked up the ball on the halfway line and ran at the defence, only to send a weaker effort straight at Archer form 25 yards. It was positive play from the striker, who had played the majority of the half with bundles of energy.

In the 43rd minute Sears swept a good ball out wide to winger Dom Vose, but his cross wasn’t a good one, and was easily cleared.

The half-time whistle marked the end of the match for Sears, with Joe Dunne naming a completely different eleven for the second half.